Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-03-04
RAuDALL's MARRIAGE,

unuUukI y WJ00slIIuukl
Just on the confines OF one of our
large mar ufacturing towns, there stands
An impoeing residence Of brown stone,
elevated by terraces above the road sur.
rounded BY stately Il ees, and with .
vide extent Of garden stretching on all
aides.
had been employed In panel amt.
Ing one OF the large bed rooms for some
weeks, and my curiosity aud INT erest
had beon excited by the fact that the
master Of the house, Mr.. Joseph Ran.
dali. was . tall, handsome man of less
than 20 years, while bis wife was cer-
tsinly twenty years older, and very
feeble old woman.
Yet never were any young couple
more seemingly devoted than this odd.
~ eontrssted pair; and L, living In the
house with constant occupation there,
certainly had good opportunity for wit
Messing any matrimonial differences,
had any existed.
When my work was done, returned
to my own home, and several mont
later, by quite an accident, not noces.
cary to record here, / learned the story
Of Mr.. Raudall's marriage.
From early boy hood be was "ne'er
do well Money ran through his Or Z.
gers like sand, and after his father, his
grand father, and his uncle had each
started him 10 business, only TO end In
failure, the family decided that he
would never be aood for anything.
He was . very handsome man, with
college education, the instincts and
manners Of . gentleman, and kindly In
feeling; but he was good natured, truth
full, and too easily influenced by who.
ever took the troubleto dictate to him.
At 30 he found himself bankrupt, GU,
OF business, and without any definite
prospects,; aud while he was seriously
considering suicide rs D way out Of his
difficulties, he received an Invitation to
visit An old friend In Grantley, q pretty
village near the seashore.
He found Grantley at the height of its
summer seascn, and his own attraction
very readily ack now led ged by the lad lei
who danced with him, stro led on the
beach By moonlight with him, and nc
cepted his graceful attentions with
smiling pleasure.
It wss here that he was intro uced te
Mise Susan Hsrte and her niece ard
supposed hciress, Miss Maude Max
vel.
They were ladies Of position, refined
and graceful; the younger one lovely IL
the freshness Of her youth, pretty
blonde face, and slender hguIe; thu
older one stately and digniied, show
Ing In every word y cultivated intellect
and strong common sense.
Bob White, Mr.. Rsndall's friend
after the PRODUCTION, spoke his mi nd
with frank If vulgar freedom.
go in for the heirsss, ice. They say
the old lady Is worth quarter Of q
| million, and Miss Maude is her only
relative. Any one can see hat they arr
devoted to each other"
And any one could also see every
evidence Of wealth In their surround.
ings. Their own carriage. witt two
magnificent horses, was with them for
| their daily use, their costumes were Of
the most costly materials, their jswelry
WAS superb. A lady's maid attended
them, aud they occupied an entire suit
OF rooms ut the only hotel.
Friendship led TO intimacy and Mr..
Randall did try to fascinate tho heiress
whose simpering prettiness cover ID q
| cold heart and . very common place
MUD.
To dress we'll, to 10 o centre OF attrac
tion for bowling beaux, were the objects
OF her ambition, and her Conversation
never rose above the level OF the SIN a lee,
Of email talk.
Thou Oh he had always seemed to lack
butinees ability, Mr.. Randall WAS nc
fool, and he found himself evening
after evenir & turning from Miss Max
wells vapid talk TO the fresh, strong
mind that shone through her aunt's
conversation.
Miss Harte was an accomplished mn.
sioian with a rich contralto voice. snd
love of m usic had always Amounted 10
q passion with Mr.. Randall. 80 the re-
was Q strong bond of sympathy there
The sumIoer wore away pleasantlv
and 1t WAS only when closed cottages
and a deserted beach told of oepartino
guests that Joseph Maxwe asked him.
self seriously how his srlmmer fiirLatiop
was to end.
He WAS not n copceited man. vat
Maude Maxwell had let him see yerv
plainly that abe hal a preference for
his society and attentions. Yet he
shrank from the prospect of a wife
with no idea above dress and eayety
however richly she MIGHT be lowered
Loving neither. in che true sense of
the word. he certainly fonnd more
pleasure in the society of the older
iadv. and then : little demon of polinv
vbispered 10 him. after ali. the MONEY
vas Mas Hsrte's and. with her socisl
position and Attractions. sbe micbt
marry. And an denrive Mamie of her
supposed inheritanoe.
III vas true that she WINS old anon oh